The unprecedented journey will navigate waters previously blocked by hydroelectric dams
By Lee Juillerat for Ashland.news
The First Descent Expedition of the Klamath River by young tribal members living along the waterway will begin Thursday, June 12.
Participants in the Ríos to Rivers’ Paddle Tribal Waters Program will lead the first-ever 30-day source-to-sea descent of the newly undammed Klamath River.
An opening celebration marking the beginning of the month-long, 310-plus miles expedition will be held June 12 at the headwaters of the Wood River, an invitation-only event. From the starting point, the kayakers will cross Upper Klamath Lake, portage around the Link River Dam, and cross Lake Ewauna to the Klamath River.
For the next 30 days, the kayakers will be periodically joined by participants from the international Ríos to Rivers programs, Kayakimün (Chile) and Amazonian Rivers Initiative (Bolivia), along with other individuals from around the world as a symbol of global solidarity.
Guided by Paddle Tribal Waters youth and team members, the unprecedented whitewater kayak journey will navigate waters that, for more than 100 years, had been blocked by hydroelectric dams – John C. Boyle, Copco 1 and 2, and Irongate. More than 30 tribal youth will participate, but not all are capable of kayaking the most difficult rapids, which may be extremely difficult with significant hazards, such as obstructed or violent rapids, and large unavoidable wave holes.
“Paddle Tribal Waters is a positive way to celebrate the removal of the Klamath dams and support the sovereignty of the Klamath Basin Tribal Nations by ensuring that more of their youth have a voice in the future health of the Klamath Basin,” said Weston Boyles, executive director of Rios to Rivers.
The Paddle Tribal Waters program organized a series of training sessions over the past three years that taught the youth from the tribes the skills required to safely run the river in a kayak, a link to the historical use of dug-out canoes by Indigenous people of the Klamath Basin. The nonprofit organization partnered with the World Class Kayak Academy and taught the teens all aspects of whitewater boating, including how to identify risks and maneuver through large rapids. The group also learned self-rescue techniques, how to read the water and more.
During the skill-building trainings, the youth also worked to develop river advocacy skills.
Two local youth kayak clubs, Maqlaqs Paddle and Páah Áama, were formed by alumni of the programs, with the goal of providing opportunities for youth in the Klamath Basin for years to come.
The journey
The month-long descent will culminate with a flotilla of tribal leaders, family members, and river activists from around the world meeting the young kayakers as they reach the mouth of the river at Requa, California.
Planned for early afternoon on Friday, July 11, where the Klamath reaches the Pacific Ocean, it is a private reception for families, press, and invited guests. That evening, an Arrival Dinner Reception will be held for students, families, and supporters of the dam removal efforts, featuring artwork that celebrates the dam-free river and ongoing river conservation efforts.
The celebration will continue on Saturday, July 12, from noon to 8 p.m. During the gathering, people from the entire river region will gather in Klamath, California for a festival featuring live music, art exhibitions and an auction, local cuisine, and a community gathering. The festivities will culminate with a special evening surprise performance. The event will be open to the public, but tickets must be purchased in advance. To sign up and receive updates, visit the website www.riostorivers.org/klamath-dam-removal-celebration.
A Free Rivers Symposium will close out the activities on Sunday, July 13. It will include tribal leaders, environmental organizations, and scientists to highlight the ecological and cultural significance of the restored river.
Organizers said the event will “explore the long-awaited return of Chinook salmon to their ancestral spawning grounds, the far-reaching benefits of dam removal, and the revival of an entire ecosystem. Experts will share insights on water quality improvements, habitat restoration, and the lasting impacts on wildlife and river communities.”
The symposium will culminate in the historic signing of the Klamath River Accord, “marking a new era of stewardship and resilience.”
Email freelance writer Lee Juillerat at [email protected].
